Your 4-week-old's development

Playtime

Playing with your newborn is a perfect way to gently guide him into his new — and unfamiliar — world. Mobiles with high-contrast patterns and books with photos of babies' faces will captivate him.

A play gym full of compelling toys to look at, swipe at, and listen to will give your baby practice with arm, hand, and finger coordination skills — and make lying down more interesting! You can even lie down on the floor next to your baby and join in the fun.

Although your baby can grab with gusto now, he doesn't yet have the hand-eye coordination to reach for an object you pass in front of him. That skill will develop at about 4 months of age. In the meantime, you'll have to place toys in his hand — your pinky may be an unexpected favorite.

Exploring extremities

At birth, your baby had no idea that his arms and legs were attached to him. That's all changing now as he starts exploring his body. The parts he's discovering first are his hands and feet.

Encourage his interest by holding his arms above his head and asking "How big is baby?" or by reciting "This Little Piggy" and counting his toes. Try moving his hands in front of his face so he can see and feel them at the same time.

Babies have trouble regulating their body temperature, and their circulation isn't perfect just yet. Keep in mind that some of your baby's body heat escapes through his hands and feet. Make sure little toes and fingers are covered on cold days, particularly when the two of you go outside.

Baby talk

Your baby may gurgle, coo, grunt, and hum to express his feelings. A few babies also begin squealing and laughing. Be sure to coo and gurgle back, and talk to your baby face to face. He'll enjoy holding your gaze now.

If you have things to do, your baby will still enjoy hearing your voice from across the room. And don't feel silly about talking Motherese or baby talk — babies are particularly attuned to this high-pitched, drawn-out way of communicating that can actually teach your baby about the structure and function of language.

Narrate your day to your baby. He'll enjoy your conversation and may even start to chime in with his own comments.

Remember, your baby is an individual

All babies are unique and meet milestones at their own pace. Developmental guidelines simply show what your baby has the potential to accomplish — if not right now, then soon. If your baby was premature, keep in mind that kids born early usually need a bit more time to meet their milestones. If you have any questions at all about your baby's development, ask your healthcare provider.

source : babycenter

Your 4-week-old

How your baby's growing:



Your baby may gurgle, coo, grunt, and hum to express his feelings. A few babies also begin squealing and laughing. Be sure to coo and gurgle back, and talk to your baby face to face. He'll enjoy holding your gaze now.



If you have things to do, your baby will still enjoy hearing your voice from across the room. And don't feel silly about using baby talk — babies are particularly attuned to this high-pitched, drawn-out way of communicating, which can actually teach your baby about the structure and function of language.



• Learn more fascinating facts about your 4-week-old's development.

Your life: Mixed feelings

Even when you're the happiest person on earth to be a new parent, it's common to have nagging little feelings of disappointment. Not that you want to tell anyone. But you spent nine months imagining what your baby would be like and now here he is — perhaps not exactly what you'd pictured. Parents of a baby born with a health problem are especially vulnerable to this feeling of not getting what they'd bargained for. But parents of healthy children often have such feelings too.



In all of these situations, there's a wonderful new baby to celebrate. And yet there's often an imaginary baby to mourn before the real baby can be fully embraced. Rarely does anybody talk about this phenomenon, but it's perfectly normal and human. So if your joy is tinged with a little regret, don't feel guilty. Give yourself a little space to privately grieve, and then count the blessings you do have.

3 questions about: Vaccines

Why are so many vaccines recommended for babies?

No parent enjoys seeing her baby getting shots or taking medicine. But vaccines are designed to provide protection against serious diseases and many people consider them the most important part of well-baby checkups. Some of those diseases (such as polio and diphtheria) were much more common a hundred years ago, but are rarely seen now in the United States, thanks to immunization programs.



How do they work?

Vaccines contain "weakened" or killed versions of the virus or bacteria that causes a disease. After a baby receives the vaccine, his immune system creates antibodies to the virus or bacteria that will protect him against the disease if he's exposed.



What's the vaccine schedule?

Immunizations given in the first year include the following:



• DTaP: Protects against diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis (whooping cough). Five doses: at 2, 4, and 6 months, between 15 and 18 months, and between 4 and 6 years.

• Flu ("influenza"): Protects against the influenza virus, which can cause severe respiratory infections and pneumonia. A yearly dose is recommended for those 6 months to 18 years old during flu season (fall and winter). Children younger than 9 getting a flu shot for the first time need two doses of vaccine the first year they're vaccinated, administered one month apart.

• HBV (hepatis B): Protects against the hepatitis B virus, which attacks the liver. Three doses: at birth, between 1 and 2 months, and between 6 and 18 months.

• Hib (Haemophilus influenzae type b bacteria): Protects against meningitis, blood infection, pneumonia, and epiglottitis. Four doses: at 2, 4, and 6 months, and between 12 and 15 months.

• PCV (pneumococcal) vaccine: Protects against pneumococcal pneumonia (a common lung disease), meningitis, and ear infections. Four doses: at 2, 4, and 6 months, and between 12 and 15 months.

• Polio (IPV or inactivated polio virus): Protects against polio, which can cause paralysis and death. Four doses: at 2 and 4 months, between 6 and 18 months, and between 4 and 6 years.

• Rotavirus vaccine: Protects against rotavirus, which causes severe diarrhea, vomiting, fever, and dehydration. Unlike the other vaccines, it's a liquid given by mouth. Three doses: at 2, 4, and 6 months.



Vaccines recommended for babies after age 1 include varicella (for chicken pox), MMR (for measles, mumps, and rubella), and hepatitis A.

source : babycenter